Asthma

Asthma is a medical term that means the bronchial tubes of your lungs are irritated and swollen. Air you breathe travels from your nose and mouth to your lungs through the bronchial tubes. (Picture)

Normal bronchi are lined with pink, moist tissue and are surrounded with a layer of muscle. [1] When you exercise, this muscle relaxes and the bronchi become wide, allowing more air to move in and out of your lungs.

When you finish exercise, the muscles contract and the bronchi return to a normal size.

Bronchial irritation progresses in 3 steps.

Step 1. The muscles surrounding the bronchi become spastic. This decreases the diameter of the bronchi and causes chest tightness. Many children have a cough as their only symptoms. A nighttime cough is a sign of bronchial irritation in children.

Step 2. The lining of the bronchi swell. [2] The swollen lining and mucous [3] restricts breathing and symptoms worsen.

Step 3. Continuous irritation produces scarring of the bronchi and restriction of airflow becomes permanent.

Medicines can help to control the muscle spasm and irritation. This decreases damage to
the bronchi.

The best treatment is prevention. Identify the cause of the irritation and avoid it (such as cigarette smoke) or stimulate the body's natural defenses against the irritants.

Airborne allergens cause asthma in over 80 % of asthma patients. Allergy vaccination (called allergy shots) stimulates the patient's immune system to protect against airborne irritants. The irritants include pollens, molds and dust mites.

Allergy vaccination enables many patients to decrease or stop their controller medications. Allergy vaccination is all natural. Children respond quickly to allergy vaccination. Many children with allergic rhinitis will develop asthma. Allergy vaccination can prevent the development of asthma in many children.